Tent-frame construction



Feb. 17, 1931.

c. M. WIQKSTRUM TENT FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 27, 1929 5Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 17, 1931. c. M. WICKSTRUM TENT FRAME CONSTRUCTIONFiled Aug. 27. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ce oilM; mks-W NW Nw x wnfitter/"ego. v

Feb. 17, 1931.

c. M. WICKS TRUM TENT FRAME CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets$heet 5 Filed Aug. 27,1929 Gee-256M fl i'olaslrllilgi flbtomeqo.

Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNEEED STATES CECIL M. WIGKSTRUM, OF OMAHA,NEBRASKA TENT-FRAME consmncrion Application filed August 27,1929. serialin. 388,728.

This invention relates to tent frame construction, and more.particularly to tent frames for tents known as chapel tents.

The primary object of the invention is to 5 provide a tent frame whichwill be exceptionally large when extended, but when folded will providea small and compact article which may be readily and easily handled andset up by a single person.

19 Another object of the invention is the provision of a frame of thechapel type including a flexible central bar adapted to bend to give thecurved outline to the tent top when the connecting rods forming a partof the 15 frame are hooked into the anchor disk of the frame.

with the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within onescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tent including a frame constructed inaccordance with the 3C invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View through a tent and frame constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the central connecting member ofthe frame.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4- 1: of Figure 3. o

Figure 5 is a detail View of the main portion of the central connectingmember of the frame.

Figure 6 is a fragmental detail view of one end of one of the flexibleconnecting bars of the frame.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through one of the supporting posts andconnecting sockets.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Figure 7 Figure 9 is asectional view of a hinge connecting member between one of the centralbrace rods of the frame and supporting post;

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the anchor disk of the frame.

Figure '11 is a sectional view taken on line 55 11'11 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the locking member used in connectionwith the arms are used.

Figure 17 is a side elevational view of an extension arm. 70 Figure 18is a sectional View taken on line 18 18 of Figure 17. Figure 19 is abottom plan view of one of the extension sockets.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the tent fr'ame includes a centralsection 5 which is provided with pairs of flanges 6 disposed at oppositesides thereof, each pair of flanges being provided with registeringopenings.

Supported bet'weeneach pair of flanges, is a socket member 7 which isprovided with a pair of ears 8 which are apertured to register with theopenings in the flanges 6, for the reception of the pivot pins 9 thatpermit the socket members to swing inwardly, in a manner to behereinafter more fully de-- scribed. These socket members receive theinner ends of the flexible roof bars 10 which have their outer endspositioned in the sock- CIA ets 11- of the corner sections, the cornersections including lower members 12.; the members 11 and 12 beingprovided withears 13 through which the tubular members 14 extend, thetubular members 14 providing pivots for the sections 11 and 12. 55

These tubular members 14 also provide supports for the outer ends of theanchor rods 15 that are shown as looped around the members 14. The innerends of these: anchored rods 15 are formed with hooks 16 that pass ml)into openings 17 of the anchor disk 18 mounted at the lower end of therod 19 which has its upper end connected to the central section 5.

Thus it will be obvious that when the hooks 16 of the anchor rods 15 arepositioned in the anchor disk 18, as shown by Figure 1 of the drawings,the flexible roof bars 10 are curved providing a frame which issubstantially dome-like in formation. In order that the hooks 16 will beheld against accidental displacement, a metal locking disk 26 is provided.

Fingers 27 extend from the locking disk 26 and are curved to engage theinner ends of the hooks 16, as shown by Figure 11 of the drawings,thereby locking the hooks in position.

The corner posts which are indicated by the reference character 19, arepreferably hollow and fit over the spikes 20 that are driven into theground surface to support the tent frame. Set screws such as indicatedat 21 pass through the corner posts and engage the spikes to secure thetent frame in position. An extension frame forms a part of the tentconstruction and includes socket members that are provided with upwardlyextended end portions 29 which end portions are provided with dependingears 30 formed at opposite sides thereof so that they may be positionedover the socket members 11 to receive the projected ends of the tubularmembers 14: in which the bolts 31 extend.

The extension arms which are indicated by the reference character 32,are formed preferably of channel bar material, and as shown have one oftheir respective ends positioned in the socket members associatedtherewith, there being provided set screws 33 for securing the extensionbars 32 in their proper positions. The outer ends of the extension arms32 are curved downwardly as at 34, where they are provided with rollers35 over which the straps 36, carried by the tent covering extend, sothat the tent covering may be secured to the extension arms.

These arms are provided with openings to receive hooks such as indicatedat 37, that are carried by the guy ropes 38, to the end that theextension arms may be securely held against movement. The covering ofthe tent which is indicated by the reference character 22, is soconstructed that it will extend over the main portion of the frame ofthe tent, and will extend over the extension arms, the outer edges ofthe covering being curved as shown by Figure 13 of the drawings to fitover the curved ends of the extension arms.

As shown, the covering only extends a short distance beyond the ends ofthe downwardly curved portions of the extension arms, where the coveringis provided with loop members 39 to receive the hooks 40 carried at theupper end of the side sections 41 of the tent. Owing to thisconstruction, it will be obvious that the side walls of the tent may besupplied or removed at the will of the people using the tent.

I claim:

1. In a tent, roof bars, posts at the outer ends of the roof bars,socket members secured at the outer ends of the roof bars and extendinglaterally with respect to the posts, extension arms removably fitted inthe socket members, and a cover for the frame.

2. In a tent, roof bars, socket members secured to the outer ends of theroof bars, extension arms disposed in the socket mem here, the outerends of the extension arms being curved downwardly, and a cover for theframe.

3. In a tent, a frame including pivoted roof bars, extension armsremovably secured to the outer ends of the roof bars, uprights connectedwith the roof bars at the outer ends thereof to support the frame, and acovering for the frame.

1 In a tent, a frame including roof bars, rods connected with the roofbars at the outer ends thereof, an anchor disk having openings, hooksformed at the free ends of the rods and adapted to engage within theopenings to hold the outer ends of the roof bars inwardly, and means forsecuring the hooks within the openings.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature.

CECIL M. lVICKSTRUll l.

